FlaLaw » 2008 » September » 15

Career Spotlight: Alumni Scott Sheftall Qualifies For Senior U.S. Open

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:47 +0000

Sheftall tess off on the fourth hole of the Senior U.S. Open.

Scott D. Sheftall (JD 76), a busy trial lawyer in Miami, hadn’t played much serious golf for about 30 years until two years ago when he decided to pick up his clubs and play in a few tournament qualifiers. Still, it was mainly for the enjoyment of competition, and not with any conviction that it would lead him to golfing glory.

Then his “little miracle” happened.

Sheftall entered a 2008 Senior U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Boynton Beach, Fla. on June 27. Against a field of mostly professional players, Sheftall birdied the 18th hole for a score of 70 to force a three-way sudden-death playoff for the second and final qualifying spot. On the third hole of the playoff, he hit a 7-iron stiff to the flag for a winning birdie.

Recalling the special moment Sheftall said, “I turned to my wife Regina as we walked up to the green and saw that I only had a one-and-a-half-foot putt, and I told her, ‘It looks like we’re going to Colorado, Baby.’”

A month later, the Sheftalls were on their way to the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. for the U.S. Senior Open, a major championship featuring the best senior players in the world. During tune-ups for the tournament, Sheftall practiced with former Gator golfer Andy Bean, whom he had coincidentally played against as an undergraduate at Davidson College, and with his friend and client Fuzzy Zoeller.

Although Sheftall didn’t make the cut or even play his best, he achieved his number one goal which was for him and his wife to enjoy being part of it all.

“It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Sheftall said. “I was awestruck by how wonderful it was to play in a national championship — to be inside the ropes on a great U.S.G.A. course with a club in my hands, to be in the locker room with the great players, and to be absorbed in the entire spectacle. Until the Open, no one had ever asked me for my autograph, but I must have signed about 400 for the kids.”

: Sheftall talks on the fairway with former Gator golfer Andy Bean.

Sheftall’s extra confidence during the qualifying tournament came both from watching his alma mater Davidson in its spectacular NCAA Basketball Tournament run and from having his wife at his side as his caddie.

“I came to understand what Davidson’s head coach Coach Bob McKillop had been getting at when stressing the importance of translating a dream into a belief, a genuine belief, and not just a wish,” Sheftall said.

“To see his players with mostly mid-major talent buy into his philosophy of competition and take down the powerhouses of college basketball was very inspiring, and it really sort of galvanized in me a vision of higher attainable goals. That, coupled with the fact that my wife Regina caddied for me in the qualifier. She had never seen me play competitive golf before; she had never caddied for anyone. But having someone believe in me and be there to keep me calm and focused so I could overcome leg cramps to play my best — She was the final secret ingredient that made the recipe for success complete. It’s truly amazing what a person with modest talent can suddenly achieve when they truly believe in themselves and have someone else confirm that belief.”

Back in his day job, Sheftall is a board certified trial lawyer for Sheftall and Torres, P.A, which he founded in 1996. The firm practices mostly complex civil litigation, both commercial and personal injury. Sheftall has developed an affinity for legal issues involving children’s healthcare and safety, which is complimented by his extensive community service, mostly on behalf of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami. All of that began 15 years ago when Dr. R. Rodney Howell, also a Davidson alumnus and the Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Pediatrics, tapped Scott as a future leader.

In that time, Sheftall has served as a member of the Children’s Council, has chaired important fund-raising projects, has contributed substantial funds for the creation of special facilities at the Batchelor Children’s Institute, and has helped to launch the first-ever patient safety program at the Miller School of Medicine. For his service, the University of Miami’s president welcomed him as a member of The Ibis Society.

: Sheftall signs autographs for fans. He said he had never been asked for his autograph but must have signed 400 for the kids.

“Not too many people could understand why an ardent Gator like myself — I’ve been a Gator since I was 5 years old — could be contributing to the University of Miami,” Sheftall said. “Of course, Gators have always said that Hurricanes need all the help they can get. But, seriously, although I was born and raised in Jacksonville, I’ve lived in the Miami community for over 30 years, and the University of Miami’s world class programs benefitting children’s health care are a good fit for my desire to make my community a better place to live. I believe that lawyers should be involved in their communities in a positive and visible way.”

But Sheftall is still a Gator at heart. His late father graduated from UF in 1934 when it was an all men’s school with only about 2,300 students. Growing up in Jacksonville, Sheftall began witnessing historic Gator games in the late 1950s. In one stretch he attending 35 of 38 Georgia-Florida classics, and he sat ten feet from Auburn’s War Eagle mascot when Steve Spurrier kicked the 43-yard game-winning field goal to keep the Gators undefeated and clinch the 1966 Heisman Trophy.

“That was a whole lot more fun than the Lindsey Scott play,” he said.

The Sheftall’s have two Boykin Spaniel retrievers. The oldest is named “Saurian,” a nod to dinosaur ancestors of Albert and Alberta, and a term students in his father’s day used occasionally when referring to the Gator footballers.

“I might have named the puppy ‘Wildcat,’ just to keep things in balance, but that would have been the worst possible name for a dog. Fortunately, we had ample inspiration to name the puppy ‘Tebow.’ If there are any linguering doubts about my allegiance to the University of Florida, that should put it to rest.”

Student Affairs Welcomes Resource Counselor Keely Hope

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:10 +0000

Hope is a doctoral candidate studying Counselor Education with a concentration in mental health counseling. She received her master’s degree in counselor education in 2003 from Mississippi State University. During her time in Gainesville she has completed a clinical internship, worked at an inpatient psychiatric facility and as a crisis consultant for the university’s housing department. Hope is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Florida and a nationally certified counselor. “As the resource counselor, I am here to listen to any type of problem that you may experience. It is not uncommon for students, especially those in a professional program, to experience anxiety or depression during their school years,” she said. “These are issues that can be managed so that you may learn to handle stressors now before entering into the career world.”

Mental health counselors are trained to provide services such as crisis intervention and post trauma growth, personal development, stress and anxiety management, psychoeducation, individual, group and family therapy, as well as substance abuse treatment and others. However, mental health counselors, such as a resource counselor, have no formal training in curriculum management, advising on school-related issues, or career services. For more information contact Keely Hope at kjhope@law.ufl.edu to schedule an appointment or drop by during office hours (Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.).

Ruppert Discusses Threat That Building Has On Beaches

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:07 +0000

Thomas Ruppert, assistant in environmental law, was quoted in an article on state rules for beach building. “We seem to be building too close to the beaches and that threatens the continued existence of the beaches,” said Thomas Ruppert, a conservation clinic lawyer and the report’s lead author. But after reading state files on “well over 50″ projects, Ruppert said, he and other lawyers couldn’t tell how the department decided which projects to approve.

Desegregation Pioneers to Be Honored During UF Constitution Day Program

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:06 +0000

Fifty years ago one man changed the course of history for higher education in the state of Florida. African-American, academically eligible, and eager to start his instruction, Virgil Hawkins was denied admission to the University of Florida College of Law based solely on his race.

With the legal assistance of future Associate Justice of the United States Thurgood Marshall, it took nine years, five Florida Supreme Court and four U.S. Supreme Court rulings before Hawkins broke the color barrier for students at the University of Florida. As a result, more than 12,000 African-Americans have since earned degrees at the University of Florida.

“Virgil Hawkins and the other students of color who followed demonstrated remarkable personal courage and persistence,” said Robert Jerry, dean and a Levin, Mabie and Levin professor of law. “Today, UF has a more diverse student body, one that more closely matches the population of Florida and the nation.”

Hawkins’ efforts opened the door for others, including George H. Starke Jr. who in 1958 was the first African-American to be admitted to UF’s College of Law; W. George Allen, who in 1962 was the first African-American to graduate with a UF Law degree; and the Hon. Stephan Mickle one of the first African-American students to be admitted to UF for an undergraduate degree.

To commemorate UF’s desegregation and its positive effects on education, the public is invited to attend the 50th Anniversary of desegregation during UF’s Constitution Day Program at the Levin College of Law on Sept. 17, 2008.

The event will take place in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom 180 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The commemoration will include George H. Starke Jr. and relatives of the late Mr. Hawkins and prominent alumni of the College of Law, including the Hon. Stephan Mickle, United States District Judge, Northern District of Florida. College faculty will provide an academic perspective on the legal process of desegregation.

Parking restrictions at the college will be lifted for the day.

Fast Facts:

In fall 2007, 51,725 students were enrolled at the University of Florida, including approximately 4,300 African-Americans, 6,000 Hispanics and 3,800 Asian-Americans.
2008 Levin College of Law minority representation: 25.4 percent. This includes Asian, 8.56 percent; African-American, 5.79 percent; Hispanic 10.57 percent; and Native American 0.5 percent.
1946-1958 – 85 African-American students apply to the University of Florida and are denied admission.
1949 – Virgil Hawkins and William T. Lewis are denied admission to UF College of Law.
1954 – Brown v. Board of Education decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. In a companion decision, the court orders the University of Florida is ordered to admit Virgil Hawkins. The state resists the ruling. Virgil Hawkins brings his case before the Florida Supreme Court five times and the U.S. Supreme Court four times.
1957 – Florida Supreme Court upholds Virgil Hawkins’ denial of admission. Justice Stephen O’Connell, who later served as UF’s president, concurs in the decision.
1958 – Hawkins withdraws his application to the UF College of Law in exchange for the desegregation of UF graduate and professional schools.
1958 – George Starke is the first African-American to be admitted to UF’s College of Law.
1959 – College of Law celebrates 50th anniversary.
1962 – W. George Allen is the first African-American to receive a degree from the UF College of Law.
1965 – Stephan Mickle is the first African-American to earn an undergraduate degree from UF, later earning his law degree from UF in 1970.